Top 3 green economy highlights of Obama's first 100 Days

Yesterday marked the 100th day of the Obama Presidency.



Here's a quick Green For All perspective, to add to the flurry of commentary this week about what the Obama Administration has done during this critical time, and what it means.



In short, the Obama administration has made remarkable strides towards building a foundation for a strong, green, clean energy economy.  Here are the top 3 accomplishments.



1. The Recovery Act

President Obama's number one priority upon entering the White House, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was signed into law on February 17th. The act is intended to revitalize the U.S. economy, and includes crucial investments in transportation, infrastructure, education, and energy.



The Recovery Act totals $787 billion, including billions that can be used to green the economy, create green jobs, and build green pathways out of poverty.



$6 billion in has been allocated to the Weatherization Assistance Program, which will go to weatherize homes to make them leak less energy. Weatherization will lower utility bills, cut carbon pollution and create lots of jobs. Local weatherization budgets will now be as much as 25 times what they were in the past. That means 25 times more homes to fix up; 25 times more people to employ and train.




The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants means that every city, county, state and tribe in the country will receive some portion of over $3 billion to spend on projects that reduce energy use or conserve resources.



$500 Million for Green Jobs Training will be allocated through competitive grants for green jobs training.  Both advanced skills training and pathways out of poverty programs are eligible for grants.

These 3 components of the Recovery Act lay a strong foundation for a green economy for all - by creating investment in green jobs, in training people up for these jobs, and in lowering energy bills and carbon pollution at the same time. 

Now, communities all around the country are working to build on that foundation, by getting involved in implementing those funds locally. Learn more about how you can shape how Recovery Act funds are used where you live: www.greenforall.org/recovery.



2. The Obama Budget includes price on Carbon

In his proposed budget for 2010, President Obama included revenue from a carbon cap system - sending a strong message to Congress that he expects them to develop such a system.



Significantly lowering carbon emissions is a necessity to ending the climate crisis. Currently, industries can dump carbon pollution into the air for free, while everyone else bears the brunt of the dirty air, environmental devastation and climate disaster this pollution causes.  That's why Congress needs, at the very least, to put a price on carbon - and make polluters pay. President Obama's budget included revenue from this system - which does not yet exist.



3. EPA ruling: Carbon dioxide = pollution!

On April 17th, President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency, under newly appointed Administrator Lisa Jackson, ruled that carbon dioxide is a pollutant that may endanger people, and as such can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. 

The Clean Air Act has allowed the EPA to reduce the amount of pollution industries dump into the air.  But before this month, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide didn't count as "pollution", and could not be regulated. 



While the EPA and the Clean Air Act are not be enough on their own to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the necessary levels (comprehensive legislation is needed) - at the very least our federal government publicly admits that carbon emissions are bad for people, and need to regulated.



Other accomplishments we're particularly proud of:

Creation of a Clean Energy Service Corps through the Serve America Act.

Van Jones named Special Advisor on Green Jobs to the White House.